the energy department says the average household spends nearly $3,000 every year on gasoline. it is getting worse, they say. gas prices have spiked dramatically in the last couple of weeks to about $3.50 a gallon. and cnn's paul vercammen, paul, we stick you in l.a. because the prices there are always so insane. right now gas is over $5. no one walks in l.a. so tough to afford a car right now. >> reporter: very tough. and, indeed, brooke, this will insult your eyes as we show you this, the average here in california is $4.93. you see at this station, in downtown l.a., which really cks gas stations, little competition, over $5. and we did catch up with one driver who had no choice but to pay the price. let's hear from her. >> it is just ridiculous. $5 a gallon is, i mean, it is ridiculous. and it is high like this in downtown l.a. for whatever reason. >> reporter: part of the reason is that oil prices are now higher. oil prices, the biggest component of gas prices, also at play in california. the regularly scheduled maintenance of in of the refineries, they switch from the wint